Casting apparatus and process.



J. C. DAVIS.

CASTING APPARATUS AND PROCESS.

APPLICATION men ocT. z, I909. RENEWED ocr. I8, 1915.

1,192,044., v I Patented July 1916.

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50 [113; 1131] Z WITNEYSSIFS r 31 26 iii w Wvf JAMES CEY DAVIS, 0F HINSDALE, ILLINOIS.

cnsrme arrannrus AND rnocnss.

. Specificatiers Patent. Patgntgd J 1p 25 1915,

Application filed October 7, 1909, Serial No. 521,622. Renewed October 18, 1915. Serial No. 53,595.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES CAREY DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hinsdale, in the county of Dupage and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casting Apparatus and Processes, of which the following is a specification. Y

My present invention relates to the art of casting metal and to means for introducing a hardening or other modifying element into the molten metal before it flows into the mold, and has special reference to the provision of improved means whereby the admixture and distribution of the modifying element may be regulated and determined with nicety, to the end that not only a homogeneity of metal throughout the casting. or certain parts thereof, may be secured but also that the repeated reproduction of a run of castings of like composition may be attained.

The principal objects of my invention are the provision of improved apparatus for the present purposes, which will most uniformly and thoroughly mix the molten metal and the modifying element, and do So more fully and completely than had heretofore been done in any manner known to me, and do so more eflectively than it has been possible to do it by pouring of the modifying element into or adjacent to the stream of molten metal as it enters the gate of the mold; and to provide means whereby the size and velocity of the stream of molten metal may be made uniform and constant to the end that the proportion of the modifying element introduced thereinto may be more closely controlled, and consequently castings of a more closely predetermined composition produced, together with furtherobjects to be below disclosed.

My invention further contemplates the utilization of an improved process of makenced great difiiculty in insuring a constant proportion between the principal metallic element forming the body of the casting, and the modifying element introduced thereinto, owing to the tendency of the molten metal as it comes from the furnace, cupola or ladle to fiow in a stream of irregular contour, as it tends to spurt or spread out in the form of a hollow cone or umbrella-like spray instead of descending in a solid column, which not only renders it dificult to properly apportion the modifying element to the stream but often renders it impossible to thoroughly incorporate the modifying element with all parts of the flowing metal.

In the accomplishment of the foregoing objects and in the avoidance of the disad vantages above mentioned as well as to attain such other advantages as may hereinafter appear, I have provided a construction one form of-which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a rotatable mold wherein a casting may be made in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2-is a plan view of certain parts shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a 'view of a detail of construction.

Referring first to Fig. 1 it will be noted that in carrying out my invention I mount in a convenient place, as in a pit 10, the desired number of molds 11 each of which is mounted upon a rotatable table 12 supported by a vertical shaft 13 carrying a gear l-i driven by a pinion 15. Upon the upper flask member 16 I arrange apouring gate 17 provided with a refractory lining 18.

For the purpose of providing means whereby the molten metal from the ladle 23 may be maintained at a height substantially uniform and will thereby be caused to descend in a solid column of uniform diameter, contour and velocity, I provide a choke device comprising a hopper or funnel 19, preferably conically shaped, the open bottom of which is partially closed by a nozzle 20 which is formed of refractory ma terial and may be renewed from time to time as required in service. To the end that the choke device may be centered over the pour ing gate 17, and where circumstances render it desirable moved from one flask to anble thereupon and arranged to ride upon rails 26 the outer ends of which are mounted upon trucks 27 and 28 which in turn ride upon the rails 29 and 30 oppositely disposed about the molds 11.

For the purpose of introducing and incorporating most perfectly and commingling and distributing most thoroughly the modifying element into the stream of flowing metal 31, which, as will be seen.on ref erence to Fig. 1 takes the form substantially of a column with parallel sides, I make use of an apparatus which here comprises a vertical casing 32 for containing the modifying elements, such as manganese chromium, vanadium, etc., a lateral extension thereof 33, a nozzle 34 the ejector of which, 35 (Fig. 3) is depressed somewhat from the horizontal, and a pipe 36 connected to a source of air or other fluid pressure supply, and insorted into the apparatus below the casing 32 to the endthat the modifying element may be drawn therefrom by fluid pressure and forced into the flowing stream of metal. In practice, I have found that the best results are attained by the use of pressures between approximately 50 and 125 lbs. per square inch which will cause the modifying element to penetrate the stream of molten metal, and that by flattening the ejector 35 so that the spray of modifying material may be spread out to approximately the diameter of the stream, and depressing the end of the ejector so that the modifying material will strike the flowing stream in the direction in which it flows, it will enter and be more thoroughly commingled and homogeneously incorporated with the molten metal, and will not have the tendency to become segregated in masses therein nor to be unevenly disposed therein, nor to remain on the surface of the stream and subject to the action of the air.

While I have illustrated my invention in connection with a rotating mold 4, available for the manufacture of wheels, and believe that it is particularly useful for the produc tion of such articles and others wherein it is desirable to have a greater portion of the modifying element toward the periphery, my invention is useful for the manufacture of castings in stationary molds, or intermit tently rotated molds, wherein are made castings of either a. homogeneous composition throughout or those formed of a number of strata of material.

The use of pressures of the strength above indicated is in my experience preferable to either lower or higher pressures as it insures penetration of the surface one hand without the disadvantages which are obviously incident to the use of jets of greater force. i a From the foregoing description it will be manifest that one of theproblems which has' been solved by my present invention is the of the stream on r problem of accurately and uniformly proportioning the quantities of the modifying element and molten metal as they enter the mold. In order to do this, obviously it' is not only desirable to have the modifying element delivered in uniform and unvarying quantity, but it is also desirable to have the molten metal varying quantity. If the metal be taken directly from a pouring ladle of the ordinary type its velocity will vary as the height of the metal in the ladle varies. From this it follows that if the rate of flow of the modifying element be uniform, the proportion of the modifying elementandmetal delivered to the mold will vary, because the rate of flow of the metal is'not uniform. In overcoming this I have provided a choke device whereby I am enabled to maintain the height of the metal inthat device substantially uniform. As a result, the discharge of metal into the mold is uniform. Furthermore, as the head of metal in the choke device is relatively small, the issuing stream is in the form of a substantially solid v column. Furthermore, by employing the injecting devicea eferred to, the modifying element is immediately embedded in and firmly held by the flowing metal, and is therefore uniformly carried into the mold.

It is believed that the operation of my in vention will be understood without further detailed description, and that other advantages of my invention and other specific means of choking the stream of molten metal and of directing the spray of modifying element will occur to those who are skilled in the art to which my invention pertains.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following:

1. The combination with a rotatable mold, a ladle,'and means for rotating the mold, of a choke device whereby the flow of metal from the ladle to the mold may be governed, and a device for introducing a modifying element into the stream of metal as it comes from the choke device. w

2 The combination with a mold and a ladle, of a choke device whereby the flow of metal fromv the ladle to the mold may be governed, said choke device being supported by a truckmovable on rails which in turn are movably supported by other rails.

3. The combination with a mold and a 1adle,'of a portable choke device supported on a truck and traveling on wheels, and a device for introducing a modifying element into the flowing metal as it runs todelivered in uniform and uniaeaoee governing the flow of metal to a mold, and a device for introducing a modifying element into the stream of metal as it comes from the choke device.

5. The combination of a choke device for governing the flow of metal to a mold and a ladle, the choke device having a discharge orifice smaller than the discharge orifice of the ladle. I

6. The combination with a ladle, a mold, and a device for introducing a modifying element into the metal as it flows toward the mold, of a choke device between the ladle and the introducing device, said choke devicehaving a discharge orifice smaller than with a choke device having an aperture to permit the efiux of molten metal, of a device for introducing a modifying element into the flowing stream of metal in a spray of substantially the same width as the stream of metal from the choke device.

8. The combination with a mold and ladle, of a device for introducing a modifying element into the flowing stream of metal, comprising a source of fluid pressure supply, a container for the modifying element and a nozzle having a relatively long orifice of a restricted cross section, whereby the modifying element maybe delivered in the form of a spray.

9. The combination with amold and ladle,

V of a'device for introducing a modifying element into the flowing stream ofnietal, com- PIlSlIlg. a connection to a source of fluid I pressure supply, a container for the modifying' element and a lateral connection from the container terminating in an ejector nozzle, the said pressure connection being arranged to draw material from the container and eject it through the nozzle.

10. The process of introducing a modify-" ing element into a cast body during the pouring into the mold which consists in causing the molten metal to enter the mold in the form of a substantially solid column and forcing the modifying element into the descending colunm between the ladle and the mold.

1 into the stream between, the choke device and pouring into the mold, which consists in choking the flowing metal into a stream of the mold.

12. The process of introducing a modifying element into a cast body during the substantially continuous size and uniform velocity and forcing the modifying element into the stream in the direction of travel of such metal between the choke device and the mold.

135. The process of introducing a modifying element into a cast body during the pouring into the mold which consists in maintaining the molten metal at a height substantially uniform and causing the molten metal to enter the mold in the form of a substantially solid column and forcing. the modifying element into the descending column between the ladle and the mold.

1d. The process of introducing a modifying element into a cast body during the pouring into the mold which consists in maintaining the molten metal at a height substantially uniform and causing the molten metal to enter the mold in the form of a substantially solid column and forcing the modifyingelement into the descending column between the ladle and the mold, and rotating the mold.

15. The process of introducing a modifying element into a cast body during the pouring into the mold, which consists in maintaining the molten metal at a height substantially uniform and choking the flowing metal into a stream of substantially continuous size and uniform velocity and forcing the modifying element into the stream between the choke device and the mold; and rotating the mold.

16. The process of introducing a modifying element into a cast body during the pouring into the mold, which consists in,

maintaining the molten metal at a height substantially uniform and choking the flowing metal into a stream of substantially continuous size and uniform velocity and forcing the modifying element into the stream in the direction of travel of such metal between the choke device and the mold, and rotating the mold.

17 The process of ,introducing a modify ing element into a cast body during the pouring into the mold which consists in maintaining the molten metal at a height substantially uniform and causing the molten metal to enter the mold in the form of a substantially solid column and forcing the modifying element into the column between the ladle and the mold, and rotating the mold..

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses.

JES CAREY DAVIS.

Witnesses:

7 PAUL CARPENTER,

Dor an) C. WILLIAMS. 

